City Council discusses issues with illegal fireworks on 4th of July, and ways to curb them...
There were big problems with illegal fireworks being shot-off in some parts of the city of Jamestown on the Fourth of July. That from one city councilman, and Mayor Kim Ecklund. There was plenty of discussion over what Ecklund called an "incredibly noisy" Fourth in the area where she lives. During last night's work session... at-Large Councilman Jeff Russell said he spoke with a JPD lieutenant who told him their Nuisance Officer caught some people shooting off fireworks... but, who claimed they got them from a vendor selling them from fireworks tents on private property. Mayor Ecklund says... in all her time in city government... she's never seen the illegal fireworks problem as bad as it was last Thursday. She acknowledged that often times it's hard to catch the people shooting them off. However... she suggested one idea from information she has received. Ecklund says they may want to make sure that block parties around the 4th don't turn into "fireworks parties." Deputy City Clerk Leigh Anne Jordan told lawmakers that the vendors operating the fireworks tents do have to receive a permit to sell their pyrotechnics in the city. She believes that specifying what they can and can't sell is a possibility. Council President Tony Dolce also suggested "spot checks" on the vendors to make sure they aren't selling illegal fireworks.
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By contrast... one resident at last night's work session commended city police because his neighborhood was quieter than it usually is on July 4.
Jamestown Fire Dept. now able to send all eight SAFER recruits to NYS training academy...
City lawmakers got some unexpected, good news during last night's work session. The Jamestown Fire Department is able to send all eight SAFER Grant recruits to the state Firefighting Training Academy at Montour Falls this Fall. Originally... the city was looking at sending just two of the recruits to the academy this Fall. However... Deputy Fire Chief Matt Coon says he was alerted of the additional openings late last week... and, he says they can amend the resolution to reflect that. Public Safety Committee Chairman Jeff Russell says the chief told the panel about the change at their meeting... and, he was pleased to see the academy be able to take all eight recruits. Russell says that will bring the fire department up to it's new, higher staffing level of 68... by this Fall... allowing all five fire stations to be staffed 24/7 much sooner than expected.
Remnants of Hurricane Beryl to be in Jamestown-area, and WNY by Wednesday...
The Jamestown-area is generally looking at receiving 1 to 2 inches of rainfall as the remnants of Hurricane Beryl move into the region overnight... and, through the day tomorrow. Beryl is now a tropical storm that is moving through the Tennessee... and, into the Ohio Valley regions. Forecaster Kirk Apffel with the National Weather Service in Buffalo says he expects the remnants to bring heavy rainfall on Wednesday... with some places seeing up to 3-inches of rain depending on the "axis of rainfall." Apffel says winds will be diminished by the time the system reaches Western New York... but, the amount of rainfall does raise some concern about possible flooding in the region Wednesday and Wednesday night. There are no watches or warnings yet.
Driver of TRC bus charged following accident in Sheridan...
The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office has now charged a Dunkirk man after The Resource Center bus he was driving Monday morning struck a house in the Town of Sheridan. Deputies say there were eight people on board the bus shortly before 7:30 a.m. when it went off of Route 5 and hit two fences before striking the house at 2036 Route 5. The driver... 62 year-old Kevin Easterly... was ticketed for speed not reasonable or prudent... and, moving from lane unsafely. Seven of the people on board were taken for treatment at Brook's Hospital in Dunkirk... and one was taken to the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo. No one inside the home was hurt.
Gerry Rodeo pre-sale tickets now available...
The 79th Gerry Rodeo is coming to the area in less than a month... and, pre-sale tickets for that and their traditional beef barbecues are now available. That from Rodeo Spokesman Paul Cooley... who says this year's event runs from Wednesday, July 31st through Saturday, Aug. 3. Cooley says they're still firming up entries... but, he adds they expect pretty much the same numbers -- around 250 cowboys and cowgirls -- as last year. He says tickets for the rodeo are now on sale at a few locations... and, adds there will be more in the coming days. You can get them now at the Country Fair stores in Gerry and Fredonia, and at the Route 60 Kwik Fill just north of Jamestown. Cooley says you can also call the Rodeo Office for tickets or ticket information at (716) 985-4847. He's also announced that Brinson James-Harris will be the Rodeo Clown this year... and will bring a variety of acts to this year's rodeo to keep fans entertained between riders and events. James-Harris was last in Gerry for the rodeo two years ago. Cooley made his comments on our Dennis Webster Show Monday morning on WJTN.
